Silver gilt, enamels; measures 51.3 mm in height, 50.0 mm in
width; weighs 39.6 g not including the screw plate. Features
a distinctive concaved "deep dish" shape, mint mark in
almost straight lines, and comparatively wide bands at the
lower ends of the battleaxes. This particular specimen is
quite uncommon: unlike most others, it has a very pronounced
counter-relief of the star and clearly visible "shadow"
counter-relief of the starburst rays.

In excellent condition. The enamel retains magnificent
luster and shows no wear visible to the naked eye - only
some tiny contact marks that can be found under the
magnifying glass. The center medallion is likewise nearly
flawless, having just a couple of tiny scratches and a few
microscopic dings. The raised details of the bas-relief are
practically pristine and beautifully crisp. The original
gold plating on the wreath and battle axes is still present
and visible, although it is partly obscured by silver
patina. The silver exhibits very attractive toning
throughout, on both the obverse and reverse. Note that it is
of distinctly lighter shade near the center of the reverse
where the silver was covered by the screw plate. The screw
post is full or near full length measuring nearly 13 mm
long. Original silver screw plate is included. Overall,
this is an extremely attractive and well preserved specimen
of the early "Deep
Dish" Nevsky.

Idris Guseinov was born in 1912 in Azerbaijan. He was
drafted into the Red Army in his native republic in October
1942, at the critical time when the German troops were
attempting to gain Caucasian mountain passes and then
capture the vital oil fields of Azerbaijan. He however only
took part in combat starting in April 1944, most likely
because he had been studying in an officer school prior to
that. By spring of 1945, Guseinov had been commissioned
lieutenant and joined the Communist Party. He distinguished
himself during the Vienna offensive in March - April of that
year while serving as motorized rifle company commander with
the 30th Guards Mechanized Brigade, 9th Guards Mechanized
Corps, 6th Guards Tank Army.

By the middle of March, the last significant German
offensive on the Eastern Front codenamed "The Awakening of
Spring" had failed, and the 6th Guards Tank Army was
relentlessly driving from an area northwest of Lake Balaton
in Hungary toward the Austrian border. It was met by some of
the last reserves Hitler's high command could still scrape
together, mainly the VI SS Panzer Army. In an assault on the
village of Shered, Guseinov's company operated as tank-born
infantry and was the first to break into the village (here
and below the names of two villages are transliteration from
Russian - correct spelling probably differs.) In this
skirmish alone Guseinov and his men killed up to 50 SS
troops and captured 68 of them. The enemy also lost 5 tanks,
4 assault guns, 7 armored personnel carriers, and 70 various
other motor vehicles. In the fight for another village
(referred to as Mecher in the subsequent award
recommendation), Guseinov led his company from the front in
beating back seven fierce German counterattacks. During the
subsequent storming of the city of Zirc, Guseinov's company
riding M4A2 Sherman tanks were the first to break into the
city. Despite being wounded, Guseinov continued to lead his
troops in street fighting inside the city, where his company
repelled four enemy counterattacks.

On 10 April, on the day when the 6th Guards Tank Army
reached the center of Vienna, Guards Lt. Guseinov was
recommended for an Order of the Red Banner. Although the
recommended award was approved six days later by the command
of the 9th Guards Mechanized Corps, it was ultimately
changed to Alexander Nevsky by the decision of the 6th
Guards Tank Army, and this award was bestowed upon Guseinov
by the army decree on April 30th. This was his first
decoration of WW2, but it wouldn't be the last: in October
1945, Guseinov was also awarded with an Order of the
Patriotic War, 1st cl. for fighting against the Japanese in
Manchuria.

Research Materials: photocopy of the award commendation
and award record card. A history of the 9th Guards
Mechanized Corps is available in the Volume III "Red
Storm" of the Charles Sharp's series "Soviet Order of
Battle in World War II" (It is interesting to note that
according to this book, all the tanks that this corps had in
its inventory were American-built Lend Lease Shermans -
making it certain that these were the tanks Guseinov and his
men rode into battle in Hungary and Austria. This is
indirectly supported by some published wartime documentary
photos we were able to find.)